Piastri faults “simple lapses in judgment” for Baku crash

Bringing his streak of 44 consecutive race finishes to a dramatic end, Oscar Piastri crashed out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the opening lap, admitting it was a “silly, simple error” as his misjudgement left McLaren’s title hopes stalled.

Piastri’s Baku campaign unravelled milliseconds before lights out, as a jump start dropped him to the back of the order as his MCL39 snapped into anti-stall on the grid, leaving him trailing the pack before disaster struck just six corners later.

Piastri’s starting infringement was instantly highlighted by the stewards, with the decision quickly being made to hand the #81 a five-second time penalty, although he was unable to serve it during his limited race.

Noting his “Breach of Article 48.1 a) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations”, the FIA’s official documentation read:

“The Stewards reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, team and in-car video evidence. 

“The video evidence clearly showed the car moving prior to the start signal for the race was given.

“Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits.”

Having already required a late chassis rebuild after his costly crash during the final stages of Qualifying, McLaren’s hard work came undone at Turn 6 when Piastri locked up and speared nose-first into the unforgiving Baku barriers, eliminating the visibly frustrated championship leader on the spot.

“Just anticipated the start too much and, yeah, silly, simple error, really, with that,” Piastri said, speaking post-race with Sky Sports F1.

“I mean, the crash… just didn’t anticipate the dirty air in the way I should have, and, yeah, clearly went into the corner way too hot, and that was that.”

“The grip level was low, but I should know that, so, you know, I’m certainly not blaming it on anything other than myself,” he added.

“Just, yeah, didn’t make the right judgment calls that I needed to at the right time, and that’s obviously disappointing.”

When asked if this weekend was one in which the Australian was never quite able to find his groove around the Baku City Circuit, Piastri conceded that was “more or less” the case.

“I mean, Friday was a tough day,” he said.

“I think, Saturday, the potential was very good, you know, I had a lot of sequences or sectors that were incredibly strong, and just never got it all together.

“Obviously, Qualifying yesterday, it was what it was, and then today, you know, just more silly mistakes.

“So, yes, it was certainly a messy weekend, for sure, but you, I would be more concerned if I was slow and trying to make up for it that way and having these errors because of that.

“The fact that they’re just simple lapses in judgment, you know, it’s obviously not a position I want to be in or put, especially, the mechanics in because it’s been a rough weekend for them, but if I’m trying to find a silver lining, then I suppose I have that one.”

Although he claims not to be focusing on his championship lead, Piastri’s second silver lining revealed itself at the end of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when Lando Norris took the chequered flag in seventh place after a lacklustre day on track. 

A slow pitstop and an unwavering DRS train ruined the Brit’s plans of a podium comeback, with Norris’ main battle pitting him against the likes of Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, and the two Ferrari drivers, with the Red Bull-backed representatives keeping the McLaren driver at bay following his tough pitstop on Lap 37 of 51.

Norris’ P7 finish only earned him six points, reducing Piastri’s championship lead to 25 points as the season enters its final third. 

McLaren’s bid to wrap up the Constructors’ Championship was also put on hold, with the team falling short of the nine-point goal over Ferrari needed in Baku to seal the title.

“That, I guess, is what it is,” Piastri said.

“I’m not too concerned about that.

“I think, for me, I’m solely focused on myself and what I can do to improve.

“There’s still a long way to go, and, you know, if you have good or bad weekends, the championship is far from over, so that’s what I’m focused on.”

Formula 1 will be back up and running again in a fortnight, with the Singapore Grand Prix the next race to tick off on the road to what could potentially be a final round showdown in Abu Dhabi.

The physically demanding weekend will run across October 03-05, with Piastri hoping to stop his teammate from scoring back-to-back Singapore Grand Prix victories come Sunday night.

Image: Formula 1

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